Hub transmission assembly

Abstract

A multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly includes a stationary hub axle, a driver, a hub shell, a power transmission mechanism and a shift control mechanism. The stationary hub axle includes a positioner that is movable in a radial direction. The driver and the hub shell are rotatably supported to the hub axle. The power transmission mechanism is operably disposed between the driver and the hub shell for transmitting rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through a plurality of power transmission paths. The shift control mechanism includes a pawl control member movable in rotational directions relative to the hub axle to a plurality of orientations. Each orientation corresponds to selection of a corresponding one of the plurality of power transmission paths of the power transmission mechanism. The positioner is disposed to urge the pawl control member to remain the selected orientation.

1. A multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly comprising:
 a stationary hub axle including a positioner that is movable in a radial direction relative to the stationary hub axle; 
 a driver rotatably supported to the hub axle; 
 a hub shell rotatably supported to the hub axle; 
 a power transmission mechanism operably disposed between the driver and the hub shell for transmitting rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through a plurality of power transmission paths; and 
 a shift control mechanism including a pawl control member movable in rotational directions relative to the hub axle to a plurality of orientations, each orientation corresponding to selection of a corresponding one of the plurality of power transmission paths of the power transmission mechanism, the positioner being disposed to urge the pawl control member to remain at any selected one of the orientations. 
 
     
     
       2. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 1  wherein
 the stationary hub axle includes a radially extending bore dimensioned to receive the positioner. 
 
     
     
       3. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 2  wherein
 the positioner includes a base portion that is movable in the radial direction within the radially extending bore of the stationary hub axle. 
 
     
     
       4. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 3  wherein
 the positioner includes a biasing spring disposed on the base portion of the positioner within the radially extending bore of the stationary hub axle biasing the positioner to move radially outward toward the pawl control member. 
 
     
     
       5. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 2  wherein
 the positioner includes a biasing spring disposed within the radially extending bore of the stationary hub axle biasing the positioner to move radially outward toward the pawl control member. 
 
     
     
       6. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 2  wherein
 the pawl control member includes a positioning arm that includes a plurality of positioning teeth on a circumferentially extending surface of the positioning arm; and 
 the positioner is movable in a radially outward direction relative to the stationary hub axle for contact with the positioning teeth of the positioning arm of the pawl control member. 
 
     
     
       7. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 1  wherein
 the pawl control member includes a positioning arm that includes a plurality of positioning teeth on a circumferentially extending surface of the positioning arm; and 
 the positioner is movable in a radially outward direction relative to the stationary hub axle and includes a distal end dimensioned and aligned for contact with the positioning teeth of the positioning arm of the pawl control member. 
 
     
     
       8. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 7  wherein
 the circumferentially extending surface of the positioning arm of the pawl control member faces a circumferentially extending outer surface of the stationary hub axle. 
 
     
     
       9. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 8  wherein
 the pawl control member includes at least one arcuately shaped control sleeve having at least one pawl control surface configured to contact a torque transmitting pawl of the power transmission mechanism, the positioning arm having an arcuate shape corresponding to and approximately parallel to the arcuately shaped control sleeve. 
 
     
     
       10. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 8  wherein
 the pawl control member includes a plurality of arcuately shaped control sleeves each having at least one pawl control surface configured to contact a respective one of a plurality of torque transmitting pawls of the power transmission mechanism, the positioning arm having an arcuate shape corresponding to and approximately parallel to each of the plurality of arcuately shaped control sleeves. 
 
     
     
       11. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the stationary hub axle includes a spring positioned to bias the positioner to move in the radially outward direction. 
     
     
       12. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 11  wherein
 the pawl control member includes at least one arcuately shaped control sleeve having at least one pawl control surface configured to contact a torque transmitting pawl of the power transmission mechanism, the positioning arm having an arcuate shape corresponding to and approximately parallel to the arcuately shaped control sleeve. 
 
     
     
       13. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 11  wherein
 the pawl control member includes a plurality of arcuately shaped control sleeves each having at least one pawl control surface configured to contact a respective one of a plurality of torque transmitting pawls of the power transmission mechanism, the positioning arm having an arcuate shape corresponding to and approximately parallel to each of the plurality of arcuately shaped control sleeves. 
 
     
     
       14. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 7  wherein
 the positioner includes a distal end configured to engage the plurality of positioning teeth of the positioning arm, the distal end having a pair of inclined flat surfaces having an inverted V-shape, and the positioning teeth of the pawl control member have complimentary inclined flat surfaces such that contact between the positioner and positioning teeth provides precise positioning of the pawl control member. 
 
     
     
       15. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 14  wherein
 the pawl control member includes at least one arcuately shaped control sleeve having at least one pawl control surface configured to contact a torque transmitting pawl of the power transmission mechanism, the positioning arm having an arcuate shape corresponding to and approximately parallel to the arcuately shaped control sleeve. 
 
     
     
       16. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 14  wherein
 the pawl control member includes a plurality of arcuately shaped control sleeves each having at least one pawl control surface configured to contact a respective one of a plurality of torque transmitting pawls of the power transmission mechanism, the positioning arm having an arcuate shape corresponding to and approximately parallel to each of the plurality of arcuately shaped control sleeves. 
 
     
     
       17. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 7  wherein
 the pawl control member includes at least one arcuately shaped control sleeve having at least one pawl control surface configured to contact a torque transmitting pawl of the power transmission mechanism, the positioning arm having an arcuate shape corresponding to and approximately parallel to the arcuately shaped control sleeve. 
 
     
     
       18. The multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly according to  claim 7  wherein
 the pawl control member includes a plurality of arcuately shaped control sleeves each having at least one pawl control surface configured to contact a respective one of a plurality of torque transmitting pawls of the power transmission mechanism, the positioning arm having an arcuate shape corresponding to and approximately parallel to each of the plurality of arcuately shaped control sleeves.